Achnabreac

Trip No.89  Entry No.5  Date Added: 3rd Aug 2018
Site Type: Standing Stones Country: Scotland (Argyll)
Visited: Yes on 19th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Stane Alane (Achnabreac), Lochgilphead Cemetery: The time was fast approaching when we needed to head back to Armadale, but there were still two more standing stones we wanted to see. Looking at the map, the quickest way appeared to be to drive to the cemetery, walk through the cemetery and walk a hundred metres or so along the track that ran from its northern wall. This was a large cemetery with a tall back wall. Eventually finding the gate to the north western side of the cemetery, we let ourselves onto a long, almost straight lane. This stone obviously hadn’t been visited in a while, as it was almost half covered in ferns to the front and back.

In taking a closer look at the back of the stone, we discovered it was on a slight mound. Canmore confirms it is incorporated into a turf and stone dyke.

Achnabreck Stone

Trip No.89  Entry No.6  Date Added: 3rd Aug 2018
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (Argyll)
Visited: Yes on 18th Jul 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Achnabreck Standing Stone, Lochgilphhead: Continuing on down the track from the Stane Alane, we came across some new build houses, closely followed by some older ones, close to a road junction with a minor road leading from the A816 towards Auchoish Burn (so presumably the stone could also be driven to). This stone was in the house of a wooden ‘hut’ which fronted a pond, presumably created by enlarging a section of the burn. I looked in the houses opposite, and whilst their doors were open, could find no-one to ask, so nipped quickly in through the farm gate and took a few photos.

Whilst this is a tall standing stone, which looks in great condition, I wonder if this is in its original location, or if it has been moved to become a garden feature. It is very close to the old trackway which runs parallel to the modern main road. Looking at the Canmore record, it sits within a landscape rich with cup and ring marked rocks, with the Stane Alane standing stone some 400m away. Studying the Canmore entry more, they say this stone had “already fallen by 1867”.

Acholter

Trip No.50  Entry No.6  Date Added: 9th Oct 2017
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (Isle of Bute)
Visited: Yes on 25th Sep 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Acholter Standing Stone, Isle of Bute: From the Scalpsie Bronze Age Barrow, we headed north up the A844 towards Colmac and East Colmac to see the stone circle, a standing stone with incised cross and an earthwork. By this time, we were starting to run out of time as we needed to get back to Rounsay for the ferry.

There had just been an accident at the southern end of Ettrick Bay – a camper van and a car had gone head on into each other at low speed. All the occupants of the vehicles were out on the roadside and others had stopped to help. I can imagine turning the corner of the A844 and coming onto this lovely stretch of sand and sea, not looking where you were going properly. We followed the line of cars past them. I spotted this standing stone on the map. We weren’t going to stop, but the stone was visible through the mist in the field, so we pulled up by the side of the road.

My goodness, the entrances to the fields were ankle deep in water, so we walked further south to another field gate and used an alternative route. The whole field was so very wet and absolutely covered in damp, smelly cow pats, that we could only get within about 10 metres of the stone. By this time, the mist really was so bad we could hardly see the stone.

Picking our way back to the road, me with very wet socks and shoes, I turned back to the field only to see a herd of large cows making their way towards us. Where had they come from? We didn’t see them in the field, and they made an eerie sight through the mist!

Acomb Sanctuary Cross

Trip No.116  Entry No.1  Date Added: 27th Jan 2019
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (Northumberland)
Visited: Yes on 26th Jan 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Acomb Sanctuary Cross: I spotted this cross base whilst doing some research for a Journal of Antiquities tumulus not far away a few days ago. This cross base is just off the A6079 Cross Bank, going north from Acomb. This is a very busy road and after driving up and back down the road a couple of times, the only safe place we could find to park was just off the road at the entrance to a grassy farm track at NY 92364 66984. Walking north to the cross base, which we’d spotted as a rectangular lump of stone under the hedgerow, we were constantly having to jump up onto the grass verge as the fast travelling cars didn’t give us much room, and it felt quite dangerous.

Fortunately, between lulls in the traffic, I crossed the road to get a ‘context’ photo of the cross base. Close up, the quite large socket hole was filled with leaves and grass. The base sits on two other stones which are barely larger than the base itself.

Andrew managed to find a lower part of the fence and climbed into the field to get photos from the other side.

Ad Gefrin

Trip No.37  Entry No.9  Date Added: 28th Aug 2017
Site Type: Ancient Palace Country: England (Northumberland)
Visited: Yes on 6th Aug 2017. My rating: Condition 1 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Ad Gefrin, Northumberland (near Yeavering): Trying to dry out from the walk to the Stob Stones, we decided to go back via Wooler and the A687 rather than back down the A68, passing Yeavering Bell on our way. Driving north, I was surprised to find we re-entered England from Scotland, back into Northumberland National Park. As we drove through Kirknewton, this ‘stone bus shelter’ and unusual gate posts caught my eye and we screeched to a halt.

I was amazed that we’d never heard of this site at all, and I read the interpretation board, then walked into the field to look at the other board. In front of me there was nothing but tall, yellow grass, with a faint darker green line where a narrow track ran along the edge of the field.

There was nothing on the interpretation board to tell us where about on the site we were. Seeing that the site spread across the road, I crossed and peered into the field. This, of course, now being England, I couldn’t just let myself into the field and wander around.

There being an excellent 4G signal here, I pulled up the Gefrin website and was really surprised to find this site described as the most evocative archaeological sites in Northumberland and also one of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.

If I hadn’t been so wet and tired after a long day out, I’d have walked round the fields. As it was, we decided to return home, do some investigation and return to the site another day (adding to our ever growing list of ‘want to see’ sites).

Addingham Cross

Date Added: 12th Mar 2015
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 30th Nov 2014. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Addingham Crosses, Cumbria: This red sandstone church sits on a site which has had a church on it from the 13th century; previously the village of Addingham (home of Adda's people), including its church and churchyard, was washed away by a major flood of the River Eden in the 12th century.
The present church holds fragments of 6 different artefacts dating from between the sixth to ninth centuries. These include the unusual churchyard cross, plus a cross shaft in two pieces dating from the second part of the ninth century, a sixth to eighth century cross-incised slab, a seventh to tenth century cross base a Viking hogback tombstone and part of a cross socket.
The cross socket inside the church, next to the choir stalls, is incised with lines and holes which make it look as if it had been adapted to play the 9-mens Morris game.
It is hard to spot the cross in the churchyard at first, as it is lined up in a row of gravestones just south of the church. It's ringed hammerhead with lateral arms are unusual and I've not seen another cross like this in my travels so far.
Combined with a visit to Little Meg Stone Circle and St Nicholas's Church in Lazonby to see the cross shaft there, this was a pleasant late autumn afternoon, made even more special by hot warming soup with speciality breads at the Watermill Tea Rooms at Little Salkeld (no, they've not paid me to advertise!).

Addiscott Cross

Trip No.132  Entry No.1  Date Added: 5th Jun 2019
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (Devon)
Visited: Yes on 13th May 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Addiscott Wayside Cross: Our first stop on this bright, sunny and breezy day, which made us glad to be out of doors.

The Pastscape entry is indeed correct, as the cross is virtually hidden by the surrounding shrubbery and almost impossible to see until we got closer and the sun bounced off its light yellow surface.

A lovely cross, very well made. It looks as if it could have been carved yesterday, although Pastscape dates it to the 14th century and HE to the 15th.

Aescia Roman Fort

Trip No.140  Entry No.1  Date Added: 25th Jun 2019
Site Type: Stone Fort or Dun Country: England (Northumberland)
Visited: Yes on 23rd Jun 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Aesica (Great Chesters) Roman Fort: In a repeat of our last visit in November 2016 (when we came here to see where the Roman aqueduct finished) we parked just off the small, gated road at NY 70421 66432, by the track leading up to Modern Farm and the Hadrian’s Wall Path.

Whilst I was photographing the inside of the fort, Andrew hopped over the stile at NY 70443 66807 and walked down the slope. As well as seeing a large stone with carved edging embedded in the dry stone wall, he identified the site of the bath house, previously earthed over by English Heritage to preserve it, as some stone were sticking out of the dry earth. Just down the slope was a piped spring which emerged into a modern cattle trough. Was this the spring that served the bath house?

The bath house, visible on UK Grid Finder, is centred on NY 70473 66733; the spring emerges at NY 70473 66698.

Aesica Vallum Round Barrow

Trip No.140  Entry No.2  Date Added: 25th Jun 2019
Site Type: Round Barrow(s) Country: England (Northumberland)
Visited: Yes on 23rd Jun 2019. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Aesica Vallum Tumulus: This tumulus is marked on the OS map and recorded in Pastcape. As we were nearby, and the tumulus was a simple walk along the metalled road, we walked along to take a look. The field had just been harvested, so we popped in to take a quick look.

Just to the south of the tumulus is the course of the vallum, parts of which are visible to the south west of the tumulus, between the tumulus and the dry stone wall, running west. At first, we thought this was the barrow, as it is much more obvious in the field, but looking closely at the map on our phones, we realised it was indeed the vallum and the barrow was further north.

Airthrey Stone

Trip No.51  Entry No.1  Date Added: 9th Oct 2017
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (Stirling)
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2017. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Airthrey Castle Standing Stone, Stirling University: I have visited the University of Stirling on a number of occasions over the years, visiting an organisation at the Beta Innovation Park, but not known (until I saw them on the Portal) that there were standing stones within the grounds.

We parked at the Wallace Monument, thinking it would be quick half hour walk around Stirling University Campus. Wrong! From the car park, we walked east up Hillfoots Road (the B989) cutting into the Alpha Centre Innovation Park, then walking round the east side of the lake to the University Sports Ground.

As soon as we reached the fence into this area, this huge standing stone stood out. I found the stiles a little too high for my dodgy knees, so it was interesting getting over them!

The surrounding hills, and the view back to the Wallace Monument make this an interesting spot. There were lots of dog walkers and students around, but none seemed to take any notice of the stone – presumably they are all familiar with it. By the time we’d visited Logie Old Church and the Pathfoot Standing Stone, my feet were aching! But no time to relax – Stirling Castle called with a loud, clear voice!

All Hallows (Bardsey)

Trip No.19  Entry No.3  Date Added: 2nd May 2017
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (Yorkshire (West))
Visited: Yes on 27th Apr 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Anglo Saxon crosses, Bardsey, West Yorkshire: This is a very lovely spot, not far from the main A58 travelling south into Leeds. Considering how close it is to the main road, this is a peaceful, tranquil spot. Having checked with the parish office beforehand, the church is open all day until 5pm.

First impressions of the building were lovely. Approaching from the west wall, there is evidence on the external wall of many different roof lines, inserted windows and additions. Inside the building it is fascinating to see the tower, complete with windows, now completely absorbed into the interior.

Whilst there, a group of four people came in and started asking us questions about the building, of which I could only answer a couple. We gave them the church guide leaflets.

I found the collection of ancient stones on both sides of the door into the Maleverer Chantry. I most liked the 12th century font bowl, which Andrew found in two pieces at the base of the steps, tucked into a dark corner, the cross head fragment and the 11th century grave marker inscribed with a crude Latin cross.

All Saints (Asfordby)

Trip No.121  Entry No.1  Date Added: 24th Mar 2019
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (Leicestershire and Rutland)
Visited: Yes on 17th Mar 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: All Saints, Asfordby: The church is usually open on Saturdays between 2pm and 4pm, but we were fortunate because there was a service here today, from 10.30am until 11.30am, so we arrived as close as we could to the finish time of the service (which, because we got lost, was 12 noon). The congregation was having coffee and biscuits, but made us hugely welcome – even our son and DIL’s Labrador was allowed into the church and made a fuss of. The vicar had very kindly made arrangements for us to meet the Secretary and Historian of the church, who warmly welcomed us, introduced us to the Curate, and showed us round the church.

All Saints is very obviously a vibrant, active church, and the building is well used for community activities, which is lovely to see.

Miriam, the historian, very kindly showed us the three Anglo Saxon stones cemented into the far south western corner of the nave, with members of the congregation very kindly re-arranging tables and chairs for us to have easier access.

I came prepared with a list of features I really wanted to see, including the rare Tudor painted bench end (next to a pillar just to the east at the north western corner of the nave), the Green Man (on a boss high up in the middle of the nave) and Norman aumbry (in the northern wall at the north eastern corner of the nave) with its original Norman chevrons. Miriam also pointed out a ‘ladder’ (stairway to heaven) on the pillar at the north eastern side of the nave, and pilgrim crosses and what looked like a scratch sundial on the external western side of the door frame into the church.

I really could have spent a lot longer in the church, as it had a lovely, calm, reflective atmosphere and would love to attend a service here.

All Saints (Bradbourne)

Trip No.170  Entry No.7  Date Added: 12th Aug 2021
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (Derbyshire)
Visited: Yes on 16th Jul 2021. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: All Saints, Bradbourne: Our last visit of this holiday. We had a very 'interesting' journey to Bradbourne, as the police had closed off the main road and routed all traffic down some very minor, single track roads, in which traffic was trying to move in both directions, and not succeeding, which was very frustrating.

There is a large parking area outside the church, although the actual entrance to the churchyard was a bit tricky to find, as there were a number of entrances to different driveways, and we ended up walking down one of these by accident.

The first cross is just inside the churchyard, to your right as you enter from the south. The sundial is just a little further to the north-north-east.

We missed the second cross within the churchyard, as we didn't have access to the HE website at the time of our visit, and whilst looking around, thought it was just another grave marker, so I didn't photograph it.

Loved the carving on the door into the south side of the tower.

Whilst there, a couple of other visitors were very keen for us to see the grave of actor Alan Bates ("Who?" I asked, to much disgust on their part), so we did wander round to find it, out of curiosity.

All Saints (Crathorne)

Date Added: 22nd Oct 2014
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (Yorkshire (North))
Visited: Yes on 17th Oct 2014. My rating: Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: All Saints (Crathorne): Anglo Saxon Cross Shafts and Hogback Fragments: This church was on the way home, being very close to the A19, so I stopped off hoping it would be open so I could see the Saxon fragments incorporated into the fabric of the nave; according to the Pastscape record for this church, these include two 10th century cross shafts and six 10th century hogback fragments.

I arrived a little late in the afternoon, and as I pulled up to the lych gate, someone came from the church, got in their car and drove off. As the church was closed, I assume they had been to lock up. I’ve sent an email via the 'achurchnearyou' web site to find out when the church is open outside service times. In the meantime, I saw the cross shaft plinth by the south west corner of the church, reproducing the image submitted by majick123 in June 2013.

Hopefully I'll be able to return soon to see the cross shafts and hogback fragments. A disappointing end to a wonderful day.

21st October 2014: I've had response from the vicar, the Reverend Pam Sanders with details of a weekday service (Wednesday at 8am - unfortunately I'd need to leave home before 6am to attend and stay on to see the crosses) and the telephone number of the keyholder (see private notes).

All Saints (Crathorne)

Trip No.58  Entry No.2  Date Added: 9th Nov 2017
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (Yorkshire (North))
Visited: Yes on 8th Nov 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Anglo Saxon Fragments and Hogbacks, All Saints, Crathorne: We’d arranged to meet Robert, the curate, at 2pm. He was a few minutes late but by the time I’d walked round the back of the church, he’d opened up the door and turned the lights on. He seemed really shy, asked us how long we’d be, could we turn the lights off when we left and shut the door; he was going for a little walk.

Whilst not huge, this is a very pleasant little church, with the delightful smell of lilies greeting us as we walked through the door.

Most of the fragments are in the south and north walls of the tower, apart from one cemented onto a window sill in the north wall of the nave, and two broken pieces being used to prop up an effigy behind the font. Naturally, we moved the candles and chairs out of the way to try and get photographs of the pieces.

Behind the stone on the window-sill is a mirror. I stood on the nearest pew to try and get photos of the man carved on its rear side. This was an unusual shape – described as a ‘collared shaft’

All Saints (Helmsley)

Date Added: 11th Oct 2014
Site Type: Early Christian Sculptured Stone Country: England (Yorkshire (North))
Visited: Yes on 10th Oct 2014. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 2 Access 5

Log Text: All Saints (Helmsley) (Hogback Tomb Remanant): We last visited Helmsley on 19th August 2010 (was it really so long ago?) as we’d heard a lot about this attractive little town but never been. There was an event on at the castle and the place was totally overrun with tourists. After a cup of tea and a visit to the church, we escaped gratefully.

This time, it was very different. It was half past four and the town was quiet. The church is open until 5pm, so we went in search of the hogback fragment in the porch.

It sits on its own on the east wall of the porch, tucked away as an almost forgotten remnant behind the gates to the porch. At first, it’s almost not recognisable as a hogback, particularly as the simple rectangular interlaced pattern was so reminiscent of the Anglo Saxon cross shaft we’d seen built into the wall at St. Gregory’s Minster earlier today. The stone looks as if it has been completely hacked about and is now a ragged rectangular shape. I had to come back and read my ‘Grammar of Anglo-Saxon Ornament’ by Rosemary Cramp to see what shape it might have been to start with.

For anyone planning to visit the church, the wall paintings, whilst modern, are impressive. It has a lovely atmosphere and there are various stations around the church were candles are burning in remembrance.

There was no guide book, but I have an address to send away for one, and there is quite a bit of history about the church on the Helmsley Parish web site.

All Saints (Ilkley)

Date Added: 20th Apr 2015
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (Yorkshire (West))
Visited: Yes on 17th Apr 2015. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Three Anglo Saxon Crosses, All Saints, Ilkley: On the way I telephoned All Saints in Ilkley to find out if they were open as some churches we've visited recently have been kept locked because of vandalism. A very nice lady in the Parish Office answered and told me the church was open until dusk and that we’d be very welcome to visit.
We found the church easily enough, being just out of the town centre. We parked in a nearby car park, just off West Street (grid reference: SE 11593 47690) which is central for the shops as well, and walked round to the church.
The three Anglo Saxon crosses are kept under the 15th century tower in the west end of the church. They are impressive, although cluttered up with other things being used by the church and such bright spot lights I had to use flash to counter-balance the light. The light also streamed in from the window in the west end making photography (for me) a little difficult. There are some good interpretation boards, and also three Roman altar stones displayed against the west wall.
The tallest cross is impressive, although the cross shaft and cross head are an amalgamation of two pieces; the cross-piece on top came from the River Wharfe where it was found in 1884. The top panel on the front of the cross (as it is displayed) “depicts Jesus seated in glory with a palm branch or pastoral staff in one hand and the other hand raised in blessing.” I confess to thinking at first that the palm branch was a set of ribs and I was looking at a skeleton! I was rapidly corrected.
The second tallest has the most beautiful carving; even though worn and damaged (it has in the past been used as a churchyard gatepost). It has cable edging and rounded scroll stems.
The smallest cross (to the left of the tallest cross as you face the west window) probably dates from the late eighth century.
The interpretation boards say that these crosses were probably grave markers although other sources say they are preaching crosses.
There were some other lovely features in the church – a box pew dating from Elizabethan times (dated 1633) and a font cover with an impressive counterweight.
After this we ended up at Betty’s for a much welcome pot of tea and toasted tea-cake with strawberry preserve - much recommended.

All Saints (Ingleby Arncliffe)

Date Added: 29th Apr 2017
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (Yorkshire (North))
Visited: Yes on 28th Jul 2015. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Ancient Cross, All Saints Ingleby Arncliffe, North Yorkshire: All Saints at Ingleby Arncliffe is very close to the A19 so we thought we’d stop off on the way back home, but finding this church was quite interesting – we had three unsuccessful attempts, driving down different roads from the centre of the village of Ingleby Cross. In the end, I got the GPS out and found the church straight away. The church is located about a quarter of a mile to the south-east of Ingleby Cross village, having to cross the A172 to reach it. From the cross roads the church is approx. 200 yards to the right hand side with a small parking area by the main gate to the churchyard.

The church many now be really distant from the village, but is right next to the manor house which dominates the view of the churchyard. The church itself was (not surprisingly for the early evening) locked, but we could gain access to the porch which is in the lower part of the tower. There was a cross (very similar to the one at Wath) leaning up against the north wall. We walked right around the building twice but could see no other crosses/old stone fragments built into the fabric of the building. There are supposed to be two more stones built into the tower along with another in the vestry according to the Yorkshire Moors Gazetter. The entry for Ingleby Arncliffe on the British History site says “A hog-back stone found about fifty years ago in a hedge bank and a later coped gravestone are now in the Cathedral Library.”

We peered through the windows of the church, and it appears to be all original box pews with a three-tier pulpit. I have sent an email to the vicar, through the ‘A Church Near You’ web site, asking if it’s possible to pick up a key next week to get inside the church and also see if we can find the stones in the tower.

All Saints (Ingleby Arncliffe)

Trip No.19  Entry No.1  Date Added: 29th Apr 2017
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (Yorkshire (North))
Visited: Yes on 27th Apr 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Cross fragments (not found), Ingleby Arncliffe, North Yorkshire: We last visited here on 28th July 2015, but the church was locked and I’d arranged for the church warden, to unlock the church for us, although when I’d mentioned the Anglo Saxon fragments to the vicar, he’d replied “this doesn’t sound much like our church.” The stone cross is still located in the porch, shut behind a metal railing door to keep it safe.

Inside, the church is very simple and plain, furnished with box pews, now painted a dusky, dark rose pink. The effigies placed either side of the altar are interesting, together with some stained glass in the east window, which the Yorkshire Moors Gazeteer says represents the Fauconberg and St Quintin families. One of the effigies is of Sir William Colvill, the other of his brother, Robert. These effigies are both in armour with ailettes, and hold hearts in their hands. The British Listed Buildings entry for Ingleby Arncliffe says the ailettes (the origin of modern epaulettes) is a 'very rare feature'.

The vestry was locked, so we couldn’t get in. We also hunted high and low around the tower for possible cross fragments. I took photographs and have since enlarged them using Photoshop, but these only show weathered sandstone.

A disappointing visit, but we tried to find these cross fragments.

All Saints (Kirby Hill)

Date Added: 4th Aug 2015
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (Yorkshire (North))
Visited: Yes on 28th Jul 2015. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 5

Log Text: Anglo Saxon Crosses, Kirby on the Moor (Kirby Hill), North Yorkshire: All Saints sits on a green just outside the village of Kirby on the Moor, between Church Lane and Millings Lane. There was a notice near the entrance gate saying the church was open on Sundays between 2pm and 4.30pm and ‘all welcome’. However there was a car parked by the church gate and we could hear someone playing the organ. Entering cautiously, I asked if it was OK if we could look around, and the gentleman nodded. He was clearly practicing a piece over and over and I felt we were distracting him somewhat. He had lit the area around the organ, but no lights were on in the church, so it became a bit difficult see the crosses into the interior church walls as I kept having to fire the flash to see. We thanked him and escaped.

The majority of the crosses are displayed in the north wall of the tower, next to the font, so it’s a bit difficult to get great photos as the space is so small. There was a leaflet about the Anglo Saxon stone sculptures that was really helpful.

I’ve just found their web site, All Saints Kirby Hill, which is great. The church is grade 1 listed, the nave being part late Saxon/early Norman, built with large irregular stones including carved slabs and cross shafts of Saxon origin. The web site tells me that the site is one mile north of Boroughbridge, the church is also known as Kirby Hill, and is at the highest point of the village, in line with Aldborough (the Roman civil capital Isurium Brigantum) and other probable sites of the Roman crossings of the River Ure.and is probably on the site of much earlier shrines dating back to Roman or even Celtic times.